Last week’s appointment of Dylan Leahy as Maybrook police officer brings the department within one of regaining its full strength of four full-time officers.

Officer Leahy is the son of Mayor Dennis Leahy, who recused himself from that part of the meeting where his son’s appointment was discussed, motion made and vote taken. Mayor Leahy also left the room during that time to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

Some on-line criticism of the appointment of the mayor’s son to the department as patronage evoked this statement from Mayor Leahy: “In my 59 years on this earth, my integrity has been more important to me than anything.”

Police Chief Arnold “Butch” Amthor outlined Officer Dylan’s journey to the department, noting he had passed the police civil service exam, passed a required 700-question psychological test and passed the required medical and agility tests. Chief Amthor said there were two separate county civil service lists, one a non-resident list and a resident list. Maybrook chose to hire from the resident list. Chief Amthor said once the resident list is exhausted, the village will look to the non-resident list.